FFX Ultimania Bio: Lulu

[Ed. Note: Originally posted on GameFAQ’s now-defunct FFX forum by user pmog; I forgot to save the thread URL on this one.]

Lulu’s Story

After a very long hiatus, my latest translation attempt is “Lulu’s Real Story” from the FFX UOG. I have to thank the folk at the AL Forums for helping me out with a few troublesome phrases.

Her Story As A Guardian

Lulu’s story as a guardian began for Yuna’s sake. Before Yuna’s young life was scattered apart by the Final Summoning, Lulu would leave on pilgrimage as the guardian of another summoner and defeat Sin – she thought that it was the only thing she could do for Yuna, whom she regarded and loved as a younger sister. Unable to keep Yuna from following the summoner’s path, that was the decision Lulu reached after much agonising. But for her, it was the beginning of more suffering.

Her first pilgrimage suddenly met its end due to the death of Ginnem, the summoner whom she was guarding. Lulu was distressed over the fact that she was unable to carry out even the barest minimum of her duty as guardian – “protecting one’s summoner even at the risk of one’s life” – much less her original goal. Her second pilgrimage was meant to be where she overcame those weaknesses in herself, but that attempt also faltered. Still unable to shake off the bitter past, Lulu will leave on her third pilgrimage as Yuna’s guardian.

Since she had originally started on the guardian’s path because of Yuna, Lulu has no doubts about protecting her. But the experiences of her previous two pilgrimages has created a new goal for Lulu as a guardian – “to overcome her own weaknesses”. To become the person she wants be, who will surpass what she is now, Lulu believes that she must finish her pilgrimage as a guardian to the very end. Not only to protect Yuna and let her successfully complete her pilgrimage, but also for Lulu’s own sake.

If the Final Summoning were to disappear, then the framework of “summoners and guardians” would exist only in name. But even so, by trying to protect Yuna and save Spira, Lulu aims to master herself. In order to become the person she wants to be this time around.

Accepting Her More Fiery Side

Much like Wakka, Lulu still has doubts about Chappu’s death. When she first lay eyes on Tidus, who bears the trace of her lover, she must surely have been unsettled, as Wakka had been. But even so, Lulu doesn’t see Tidus as the return of Chappu, like Wakka naively does. No, she can not see him in that way. Therein lies the complexity of Lulu’s feelings.

Since she and Wakka are both in the same position of having suddenly been faced with the death of a loved one, Lulu can empathise with his weakness. Because she can empathise with him, she feels that she can’t allow herself to do so. For she sees an image of her own weakness-laden self within Wakka. By judging Wakka, Lulu is judging herself.

Lulu isn’t all that calm and collected. She is merely trying her utmost to be that way. The words she lets fly at her closest friend Wakka show a volatile and weak side to Lulu that can be considered to be her true nature. It is because she knows her own character that she tries desperately to be calm and collected, if only in appearance.

A Representative Of An Old Age

Until the middle of the story, Lulu is, if you will, the guide of the pilgrimage. With ample experience as a guardian, she inevitably takes up the role of providing her companions with information and guiding them forward. She treats Yuna like an older sister would, and fills Tidus in on general knowledge about Spira… But that role of hers ends right at the pilgrimage’s midway point.

Lulu’s knowledge is that of a follower of Yevon’s, and only holds true within the framework of the teachings. She and Wakka are, so to speak, representatives of an old age that is bound by traditional beliefs. When the party begins to stray from the teachings, the knowledge that she can impart to her companions lessens. Instead, that traditional knowledge becomes a shackle.

The reversal of Lulu and Yuna’s supporting/supported relationship is alluded to at the Gagazet Mountain Gate. While acknowledging Yuna’s strength in having overcome a discouraging situation, Lulu reveals her own weakness. From that moment onwards, one is able to glimpse at a side of Lulu that is more tender-hearted and often uncertain about the best thing to do, which may perhaps be her true self.